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Sunday, January 01, 2017

Sunday Happy New Year's Post: First Book of the Year, New Books & January's TBR List Poll

Happy New Year! Two thousand seventeen is here, as hard as it is to believe. Do I hear some sighs of relief out there? Or maybe you are like me and reserving any feelings about the new year just yet. I have a lot planned for you this week before I take a short break from blogging this January. I will be posting my 2016 Reading Survey in two parts, along with the list of recommendations some of you were kind enough to make for me last month (I want to read them ALL).

I figured if I was going to participate in Sheila of Book Journey's annual First Book of the Year 2017 event for the first time, I might as well make everyone else in the house join in as well. Fortunately, they were all excited to take part too (and with only minimal arm twisting).

Lisa See's The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane will be the first book I finish in 2017. I probably could have finished it before the start of the New Year, but I didn't want to rush it. I am loving the book so far, and am very nearly done with it.

After finishing See's novel, I thought I would start off the year with the classic, Jane Austen's Northanger Abbey, which has been calling my name for some time now. I am really looking forward to officially starting it sometime today.

My husband, Anjin, is starting the New Year with a book he got for Christmas, Maps of the Disney Parks by Vanessa Hunt, Kevin Neary and Susan Neary.

Mouse wanted to show off her reading skills, and is reading Pinkalicious: The Fantastic Machine by Victoria Kann.

My mom, who is visiting from out of town, didn't want to be left out! To start the New Year, she planned to finish reading News of the World by Paulette Jiles, but ended up finishing it New Year's Eve night, before the ball dropped. Oh well. The best laid plans. She is now reading June by Miranda Beverly-Whittemore, which is an amazing book I had the opportunity to read this past year.

What is your first book of 2017?

New to My Shelves: Christmas turned out to be surprisingly bookish for me. I have never received so many books as gifts all at once from my family! It helped that I made sure my husband gave out my wish list this year.

The lovely unicorn surrounded by books tote came in my stocking, and was not much of a surprise given who Santa Claus was this year. Not pictured is a Jane Eyre tote I received from my Secret Santa at work, which I am also excited about. My Christmas books included:

Love and Freindship: And Other Youthful Writings by Jane Austen

The Witch of Painted Sorrows (The Daughters of La Lune, Book 1) by M. J. Rose

Silence by Shusaku Endo

The Book of Speculation by Erika Swyler

Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End by Atul Gawande

Eleanor and Hick: The Love Affair That Shaped a First Lady by Susan Quinn

Truthwitch (The Witchlands, Book 1) by Susan Dennard

Creative Cats coloring book

And then there was my Barnes and Noble e-book settlement credit which I finally used, buying a few books that had been waiting patiently on my wish list for awhile now:

Lost in Austen: Create Your Own Jane Austen Adventure by Emma Campbell Webster

Even Mouse got a few books and comics for Christmas. She's not quite as over the moon as I am, but she seems happy about her bookish gifts.

Strawberry Shortcake Comic Books 1-4

Flat Stanley Collection

My Little Pony Around Equestria and Rosie Revere, Engineer

Princess in Black Takes a Vacation

Have you read any of these? What did you think?Did you get any books for for the Holidays? Which ones?How did you bring in the New Year?

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Every Friday Coffee Addicted Writer from Coffee Addicted Writerposes a question which participants respond on their own blogs within the week (Friday through Thursday). They then share their links at the main site and visit other participants blogs.

Your New Year's Resolution is to read a classic novel that you have never read before. What book will it be?

There are a number of classics I would eventually like to get to, of course, but if I had to pick the top one on my list, it would be Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen. It's one I had really wanted to read in 2016, but just never made time for. Eventually, I want to read all of Austen's books. She has a way of transporting me into another time and place--I have loved everything I have read by her so far.

What about you? If you were going to make a New Year's Resolution to read a classic you have yet to read, which one would you pick?

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Thank you for helping me decide what book from my TBR collection I should read next:

My TBR List is a meme hosted by the awesome Michelle at Because Reading. It’s a fun way to choose a book from your TBR pile to read. The 1st Sunday of every month, I will list 3 books I am considering reading and take a poll as to which you think I should read. I will read the winner that month, and my review will follow. While I will attempt to post my review that same month, I make no promises--it may go up the following month.

I initially planned to have you vote on these three back in November, but then I thought listening to one would be a great way to start out the year. I do not often read celebrity memoirs, but all three of these come highly recommended and I love the theme of the titles. It will be fun to start the year on a positive note with one of these great choices.

Here are my January choices:

Year of Yes: How to Dance It Out, Stand in the Sun and Be Your Own Person by Shonda Rhimes

Goodreads Summary:

The mega-talented creator of Grey’s Anatomy and Scandal and executive producer of How to Get Away With Murder chronicles how saying YES for one year changed her life―and how it can change yours, too.

With three hit shows on television and three children at home, the uber-talented Shonda Rhimes had lots of good reasons to say NO when an unexpected invitation arrived. Hollywood party? No. Speaking engagement? No. Media appearances? No.

And there was the side-benefit of saying No for an introvert like Shonda: nothing new to fear.

Then Shonda’s sister laid down a challenge: just for one year, try to say YES to the unexpected invitations that come your way. Shonda reluctantly agreed―and the result was nothing short of transformative. In Year of Yes, Shonda Rhimes chronicles the powerful impact saying yes had on every aspect of her life―and how we can all change our lives with one little word. Yes.

Yes, Please by Amy Poehler

Goodreads Summary:

In Amy Poehler’s highly anticipated first book, Yes Please, she offers up a big juicy stew of personal stories, funny bits on sex and love and friendship and parenthood and real life advice (some useful, some not so much), like when to be funny and when to be serious. Powered by Amy’s charming and hilarious, biting yet wise voice, Yes Please is a book full of words to live by.

As You Wish: Inconceivable Tales From the Making of The Princess Bride by Carey Elwes with Joe Layden

Goodreads Summary:

From actor Cary Elwes, who played the iconic role of Westley in The Princess Bride, comes a first-person account and behind-the-scenes look at the making of the cult classic film filled with never-before-told stories, exclusive photographs, and interviews with costars Robin Wright, Wallace Shawn, Billy Crystal, Christopher Guest, and Mandy Patinkin, as well as author and screenwriter William Goldman, producer Norman Lear, and director Rob Reiner.

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Thank you for voting!I hope you all have a great week! Happy Reading!

The Sunday Post is hosted by the wonderful Kimba, the Caffeinated Book Reviewer, and gives us all a chance to recap our week, talk about what we are reading, share any new books that have come our way, and whatever else we want to talk about.

94 comments:

Happy New Year! And here's to a great 2017. I like how your whole family joined in the First Book fun! Truthwitch is one I've been thinking of reading... oh and I had to vote for Inconceivable for your TBR poll, because of course Princess Bride! :)

Greg - Thank you! I sort of just told them I needed to take their pictures with their first reads of the year without really asking--although I did explain what I was doing so they could say no if they wanted . . . Eveeryone was very cooperative. :-) I'm excited about reading Truthwitch. I came really close to choosing that as my first book of the year. Thank you for voting. I have a feeling that one will win. :-) Happy New Year to you as well!

Enjoy all of your new books!!! That is quite the haul. It is fun that the first book of 2017 was a family affair. I haven't decided what my first book will be yet... So far today I have been lazy and drank coffee and visited blogs. :)

Shandy Jo - I missed the interview, but I have heard such great things about the book. Our New Year is proving to be a quiet one. We're having a Harry Potter movie marathon. :-) I hope you have a Happy New Year!

Happy New Year! I like how you managed to get everyone on board with First Book. I've enjoyed this event since its beginning, and in Year Two, I stumbled upon a series that I have continued in subsequent years.

I have never read Northanger Abbey! I am also interested in Year of Yes.

I have Jacqueline Woodson's Another Brooklyn, and after I read it, I want to get Brown Girl Dreaming.

Happy New Year. How exciting to get all the family in on this one. My daughter used to love Pinkalicious, she is fun to read. Year of Yes was one of my favourites last year and I hear was an amazing audio, that was my vote.

Marce - Thank you! We're all going to be enjoying our books today. :-) Mouse loves the Pinkalicious books. Now that she's discovered the early reader series, she's especially fond of them. :-) Thank you for voting! I can't wait to listen to Year of Yes. All of them really.

Donna Marie - I loved the novel The Princess Bride. The movie grew on me after awhile. It is one of my husband's favorite movies. I love the movie now, but wasn't sure about it at first. Thank you for voting. Have a Happy New Year!

It's great that your family participated in First Book for 2017! I see you have Being Mortal. I listened to it and it was well worth while. I hope you and your family enjoy all of the new books. Happy New Year!

Pat - I was happy they were so willing. :-) I am looking forward to reading Being Mortal. Even my in-laws and mother had heard about it and are interested in reading it after I finish it. Have a happy New Year!

Happy New Year! Please check out some of my recent posts:http://shoshireads.weebly.com/home/city-of-lost-souls-reviewhttp://shoshireads.weebly.com/home/city-of-fallen-angels-reviewhttp://shoshireads.weebly.com/home/one-moment-reviewhttp://shoshireads.weebly.com/home/what-light-review

Wonderful post! I love that your whole family got in on the act too, for first book! My son got a stack of books for Christmas, which I'll be sharing this week, along with my holiday gifts. Wendy, I love that your daughter got lots of books too. Start her off right :)

I always vote for your month reading choice, by the way. I choose what I would like to read :) not what I think you should read-- okay guilty as charged...

I love how your entire family participated in the first read of 2017! I'm actually reading two different books so I'm not sure which one will end up being my actual first book finished :) I hope that you and your family had a wonderful holiday and New Year!!

Happy New Year, Wendy! That is so cute that you got the whole family to participate in the first book of the year picture! I love that you started your year off with a classic. I picked up something very different from my typical reading so I'm excited about that. Wishing you great reading moments ahead!

Iliana - Thank you! I figured if I was doing it, they should too. :-) I went back and forth about which book to start this year off with, and am happy with my choice. :-) I hope you have a Happy New Year!

I have so many comments that I don't even know where to start! I love love love that you got your whole family involved (especially Mouse!). Your husband's book looks really fun. I think I need a copy of that myself. There are Strawberry Shortcake comics??? This is what I miss by not having a girl! I've tried to introduce a few things that are like that and got shut down quick from the Tornado. Have you read her the Geronimo Stilton books? I think she might like them and there are a ton of them. I love the Unicorn tote bag! It's adorable and just so fun. Enjoy Northanger Abbey. I read it years ago but remember nothing about it so I feel I should read it again. Happy New Year!

Katherine - Mouse was probably the most eager of all of us. :-) She loves having her photo taken. My husband has wanted that book for awhile now, and I'm glad he'll finally get a chance to read it. It's mostly pictures, but he's really into the Disney parks and their histories.

I'm not familiar with the Geronimo Stilton books, but I looked them up. They do look fun!

I just love the unicorn tote bag. I probably shouldn't have splurged on it, but I couldn't resist.

What a lovely idea - your first read of the year as a family:). As for your upcoming reads - I thoroughly enjoyed Truthwitch and hope you also do so. You certainly have a wonderful Christmas haul - and looking at Mouse's collection, I recall the Flat Stanley series with great affection as I read them to my son another lifetime ago. I hope you have a wonderful 2017 and look forward to reading your blog throughout the year:).

How fun that you got your whole family involved in first book of the year! I can tell from this post that you are a family of readers. I've been reading with my kids for years but now they're teens and those days are gone. Thanks for visiting my blog.

To be honest I don't think this is going to be any better of a year for me so I am reserving feelings for now lol. I love the photos of your family reading the books! My first book is Blackwell by Alexandrea Weis. I'm only at like 5% but so far it seems like it'll be good. Your unicorn tote is so pretty! And I do want to read The Phantom of the Opera this year, so that would be my choice of classic novel :-)

Kristen - I know what you mean. I want it to be better for all of us, but we'll have to wait and see. We ended up having car trouble yesterday so that was an expense we didn't need at the beginning of the year. I hope you continue to enjoy Blackwell! That sounds like a good book to start out the year with. :-) I'm really in love with the unicorn tote. I hope you are able to get to The Phantom of the Opera this year!

Brian - Thank you! I hope you are having a Happy New Year so far. I admit I enjoy dual narratives, but they certainly can be tricky. I thought Lisa See did a good job with this book, despite the focus being more on one character than the other. It fit well with the story being told, I feel.

Happy New Year, Wendy. I love that you got the whole family to participate in First Book... and you all have great taste, too! Northanger Abbey is Jane Austen at her funniest, and I hope your mom enjoys New of the World. That one is on my wish list.

JoAnn - Thank you! I'm really enjoying Northanger Abbey so far. I love her sense of humor. My mom really enjoyed News of the World. She's loaning it to be to read. :-) I hope you have a Happy New Year, JoAnn!

Happy New Year Wendy!! I hope you’ll have a great year! ;)I love seeing those family pictures for the ‘First Book of the Year’ Event. How fun that they all wanted to join! My first book of 2017 is The Other Einstein. I’m enjoying it so far!Have a great week!

Maureen - Thank you! It's been a mixed year so far, but I can't complain too much. :-) I really want to read The Other Einstein and am glad to hear you are enjoying it. I hope you have a great week too, Maureen!

Love the title of the Lisa See novel: The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane. That alone makes me want to read it. And I LOVE Northanger Abbey. I think it's one of Austen's funner books. And what a great haul of books you got for Christmas. I'm a little jealous. ;) Happy Reading!

Melody - Happy New Year to you as well! We all got a little reading done on New Year's Day. :-) See's book is due out in March, and so I hope to have my review up around then. I will say though that I loved it.

I love love loved As You Wish. I both read and listened to it with my husband, who also enjoyed it. Of course, The Princess Bride is easily my favorite movie of all time :-) Yes, Please was also very good and I enjoyed it as well.

Melinda - You have to vote!! Just kidding. I am glad to hear you loved all three. That means I can't go wrong with any of them. :-) Honestly, I can't see myself reading any of them--so it has to be audio for me. Some books are just better in audio.

HAPPY NEW YEAR, WENDY!!! I hope you and your family had a GREAT time!! And I'm looking forward to more FAB posts from you in 2017!!

I wish I had known about the "First Book of the Year" event....I definitely would have participated! Well, I'll keep this event in mind for 2018!

I'm not familiar with your chosen first book, "The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane", so I'll check it out on Goodreads. I might be interested in reading it, too.

As for your Jane Austen selection, I've been wanting to read it for some time now. (I know, I keep saying that about a LOT of books I own! Lol.) "Northanger Abbey" is definitely one of her best-known works.

How FABULOUS that you got other family members to participate in the "First Book of the Year" event! Even Mouse got into the act! She looks so cute, too, holding up her book!

"Maps of the Disney Parks" sounds like something I'd be interested in, especially as it's been YEARS since I was last there! And I'll also be checking out your mom's two books!

In late December, I started reading a TERRIFIC nonfiction book by Elizabeth Gilbert (of "Eat, Pray, Love" fame). The book is titled "Big Magic", and is about letting go of one's fears in order to create. I came across the Spanish translation of this book in a local Barnes & Noble, started skimming through it in the store, and bought it. The title is a little different from the original -- "Libera Tu Magia" ("Liberate Your Magic"). I'm GREATLY enjoying this book! Of course, I HAD to order the original, as well! I got it from Walmart, thanks to a gift card I got from my ESOL students as a Christmas present!! The book was waiting in our mailbox when Daniel (my husband) and I got back from our Key West vacation yesterday (we were there five days and five nights!). So, after I finish the Spanish version, I'm going to read the English version, too. (Yeah, I do crazy bookworm stuff like this pretty often. Lol.)

I will be posting my review of the English edition of this book on "MindSpirit Book Journeys", since my readers at "A Night's Dream of Books" are not into nonfiction at all.

I ADORE the phrase you've used above -- "drowning in books"!! What a lovely state to be in!! You're SO lucky to have gotten so many WONDERFUL books, Wendy! And two book totes, as well! That unicorn tote is just GORGEOUS!

I own two of the books you've listed: "The Book of Speculation" and "Truthwitch". I need to get to them this year....

I have to go get my hair done in a few, so I'll be back to finish commenting later! C ya!! HUGS!!!! <3 <3 <3 :) :) :)

Maria - Sheila's been hosting First Book of the Year for years now, but this was my first year participating. I do hope you'll join in next year. It was such fun to be a part of the event. :-)

The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane is written by one of my favorite authors. I just love her books. And her latest is another winner in my opinion.

The Maps of Disney Parks is a neat book to look at--maps from all over the world. My husband is quite pleased with it.

I am glad you are getting a lot out of Big Magic. I admit I have never really been interested in reading anything by Elizabeth Gilbert. I tried to get through Eat, Pray, Love, and just couldn't get through it. I'll have to look for your review of Big Magic.

I do feel lucky to have gotten so many books for Christmas. It's a rare treat indeed!

I hope you are happy with the results from the salon! I treated my daughter, mother and myself to a visit to the hair salon the Friday before last, and we had a nice time.

I'm back! That was a LOOOONG hair appointment, wasn't it? Lol. Actually, my appointment was at 4:30 PM, my time. However, the hairdresser (this is a beauty school I go to) didn't get started putting color on my hair until about 5:20 PM. Then, of course, came the wash and blow dry. I also get my hair ironed every time I go. So...by the time it was all done, it was 9:21 PM!! Then hubs and I went to dinner, and after that, went for a little ride. It's now 12:50 AM. We got in about 10 minutes ago. Lol.

Anyway, to continue!!

The books and comics Mouse got are totally adorable! They make me wish I was a kid again....sigh....

As for your BBH answer, I've already mentioned "Northanger Abbey". Heck, I want to read several other novels by Austen -- "Sense and Sensibility", "Persuasion", and "Emma". Hope you enjoy!

As for your TBR read, I almost picked "Yes, Please", but then I scrolled down and saw "As You Wish"! Since I LOVE "The Princess Bride", I just HAD to pick that one!! I have a strong feeling it will be the overwhelming favorite, too!

As always, thanks for sharing all of your wonderful bookish and real life happenings, Wendy!! HAPPY NEW YEAR AGAIN!!! HUGS FROM MIAMI, FLORIDA!!!! <3 >3 :) :)

Happy New Year! Thanks for stopping by my blog and commenting on my First Book of the Year post. I liked Northanger Abbey though it isn't my favorite of Jane Austen's novels (I liked Persuasion, Pride and Prejudice and Sense and Sensibility more). I actually just got a copy of it for Christmas from a friend :). Glad you enjoyed The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane. That is one I'm looking forward to reading later this year. I also bought News of the World when it was on sale for Kindle on Christmas Day. It looks pretty good.

Sounds like you had a nice Christmas and have some great books to start 2017 with :)

Happy New Year! My daughter loved the Pinkalicious books and we still have them. It's fun to see your daughter enjoys reading too. You had some great choices for your TBR list but I voted for As You Wish. I loved The Princess Bride and this sounds really fun to read. I hope you enjoy the winning book!

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At the age of five, Literary Feline (aka Wendy) was diagnosed as a fabulavore. Due to the low story content of movies and television, she has required a steady supply of books to provide her sustenance. She currently resides in California with her loving husband, adorable daughter, and two affectionate and sassy cats. Literary Feline has broadened her nutritional sources by reviewing books. Please note: Literary Feline is not a bibliovore. She's not eating the books for goodness' sake.